Bueckers, along with two current Huskies stars, helped design the rings commemorating the program's 12th title

The Huskies, ranked No. 1 in the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll, host Southern Connecticut State Sunday afternoon at PeoplesBank Arena (formerly XL Center) in Hartford. Sunday’s game will be the first basketball game played at the newly renovated arena.

Paige Bueckers is back in Storrs like she never left, participating in a recent Huskies practice after receiving her championship ring.

The defending national champion UConn women's basketball team will enter the season atop the AP Poll behind Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong.

Joining Strong on the AP team were UCLA senior center Lauren Betts, Notre Dame junior guard Hannah Hidalgo, Texas senior forward Madison Booker and South Carolina senior guard Ta'Niya Latson. Hidalgo and Betts each earned 29 votes while Booker had 23 and Latson 14.

It's a moment frozen in time: Paige Bueckers hugging her coach Geno Auriemma with 1:32 left and the UConn women's basketball team about to celebrate its 12th national championship with a rout of South Carolina in the NCAA final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.